College project on comparing gti mk2 and mk6

[mattlawrence94]

For a college project I'm answering: What car is better engineered, golf gti mk2 or mk6?  Could everyone help me with specific details that makes either one better?  Opinions are also much appreciated if you can tell me why.

Thanks

[dubber36]

It's a tough one to compare to two models in terms of engineering.

It could be said that the Mk2 was a great success in terms of engineering of its time, nearly 30 years ago, as there are so many still around today. We don't know how many Mk6's will still be servicable after the same length of time, but I suspect many will be deemed unecconomical to repair once the electronics begin to fail.

[Keithuk]

Welcome to the forum.

So are you talking about one car per student or one car per group? We don't have that much room to store them many cars at the College where I work.

You would probably better with the Mk2 as Mk6's haven't been out that long so you won't find much that needs doing to them.

Seat have just given us a 2008 Leon 1.9 TDI it only has 125 miles on the clock so I don't know what its been doing or where it was stored for 3 years?

[Sam]

mk2 innit

[PenguinGTI]

It's a tough one to compare to two models in terms of engineering.

I think you have been quite modest with that statement  

Exactly as Dubber has said, the two cars are very different. It's not a case of driving them both until all four wheels fall off.

The argument for the Mk2 is that there are so many still around (however one must bear in mind that the "classic" status of the mark has resulted in many receiving far more attention than most cars of that generation). The mk2 is a simpler car, both to drive and in terms of engineering. It simply has less parts on it to go wrong. Whether one considers this lack of complication to represent a greater engineering is up to the individual.

The argument for the Mk6 is the sheer breadth of ability which the car offers.

Furthermore, the response depends on how you interpret the question.

Are you comparing the cars directly? If so then one might argue for the Mk6 by suggesting that modern car construction is vastly improved, but equally so one might defend the Mk2 on the grounds that, as a simpler car, it has less to go wrong with it. It really depends on you're own personal appreciation of engineering -whether you are a 'less is more' or 'more is more' sort of person.

Or are you comparing the cars indirectly - that is by comparing them to their respective contemporaries? This method may prove to be a better choice as it would give each car a context. The Mk2 GTI was without doubt, one of the finest (if not the finest) hot hatches of its generation. Class leading performance, practicality and German build quality established it as such. By way of comparison, the GTI no longer offers class leading performance and there are many German built rivals (even within the VW fold) which are attempting to steal the GTI's crown.

Which makes the more convincing GTI?

Even within this question there isn't a clear answer. Fans of the original will advocate driving thrills, purity and performance. But in today's motoring climate the importance of the back road blast has dwindled. Emissions, refinement and ease of driving seem to be higher up the agenda. The modern GTI reflects such a change in attitude.

My own car is a completely standard Tornado Red GTI with only the DSG transmisson and Cruise control fitted as options. Even in comparative poverty spec (next to some of the cars on here), the GTI remains the greatest car I have ever owned. It has travelled with me all over Europe, cruising with composure at speeds approaching 150mph. It has hauled everything I have needed hauled with it's usefully shaped boot and easily folding seats providing enough space. It has been relatively cheap to run, averaging over 40 mpg at best and low 30's at worst. It has set out with me from Motherwell, Scotland with excitement towards the Nurburgring. It has raced round, enthusiastically chasing far more exotic machinery, whilst looking after it's novice driver. And, having scrubbed it's tires, having emptied it's fuel tank and having sucked every insect in Germany through it's intake, it simply settled into 6th and carried it's driver - now weary and in need of rest - all the way home.

Sorry that this doesn't answer you're request, but hopefully it will help you in your work nonetheless.

[Mr_F]

Following on from The Penguin,

I think perspective is very important here, you need to decide from whether you are the user, customer, supplier, manufacturer or shareholder.

You also need to understand the requirements of the two cars are largely different with regards safety, economy, ergonomics, cost and Fashionable / aesthetic taste.  Couple this with the myriad of technologies / build techniques available at each time period makes for a very expansive question to compare the two.

Trade-offs / sacrifices would have been made in each design to suit the current strategy of the company or fashion of motoring in it's day! 

How many words have you got?  And what sources are you thinking of using?  From my experience, these things aren't about the subject matter it's about the validation  / justification of the evidence coupled with your constructed argument.

[andykram]

My Mk2 8v was faultlesly reliable over 20 months despite being 20 years old. Time will tell if the 16v is as good as I've only had it a week but does simpler mean better engineered? They're both as much fun to drive, the Mk2 arguably more so as it is so direct. However, the Mk6 is a deeply impressive machine. I love them both for different reasons, thus the reason I own both.

For proper engineering these days, however, you surely have to look at Japanese cars. I suspect very strongly that the complexity of the Mk6 will make them less useful after 20 years than the Mk2 whereas you could see Japanese cars going on that long.

[PenguinGTI]

My Mk2 8v was faultlesly reliable over 20 months despite being 20 years old. Time will tell if the 16v is as good as I've only had it a week but does simpler mean better engineered? They're both as much fun to drive, the Mk2 arguably more so as it is so direct. However, the Mk6 is a deeply impressive machine. I love them both for different reasons, thus the reason I own both.

For proper engineering these days, however, you surely have to look at Japanese cars. I suspect very strongly that the complexity of the Mk6 will make them less useful after 20 years than the Mk2 whereas you could see Japanese cars going on that long.

I doubt a Prius would outlast a Golf Bluemotion. 

I do agree with what your overall point though.